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THE FIRST BOOK OF<br/>
<span class=large>SAMUEL</span><br/> OTHERWISE CALLED<br/> THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS
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CHAPTER 23
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David smites Philistines and saves Keilah—He continues to flee from Saul—Jonathan comforts him in Ziph.
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&nbsp;&nbsp;1 <span class='smallcaps'>
Then</span> they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against <sup>a</sup><a href="1_sam/23/1a" mark="a" type="A" title="Josh. 15: 44.">Keilah</a>, and they rob the threshingfloors.
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&nbsp;&nbsp;2 
Therefore David <sup>a</sup><a href="1_sam/23/2a" mark="a" type="A" title="2 Ne. 32: 9.">enquired</a> of the <span class='smallcaps'>Lord</span>, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines?  And the <span class='smallcaps'>Lord</span> said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
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And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
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Then David enquired of the <span class='smallcaps'>Lord</span> yet again.  And the <span class='smallcaps'>Lord</span> answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
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So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and <sup>a</sup><a href="1_sam/23/5a" mark="a" type="A" title="Mosiah 10: 20.">smote</a> them with a great slaughter.  So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
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&nbsp;&nbsp;6 
And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, <i>that</i> he came down <i>with</i> an ephod in his hand.
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&nbsp;&nbsp;7 
&#182; And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah.  And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
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And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
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&nbsp;&nbsp;9 
&#182; And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
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Then said David, O <span class='smallcaps'>Lord</span> God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
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Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand?  will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard?  O <span class='smallcaps'>Lord</span> God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant.  And the <span class='smallcaps'>Lord</span> said, He will come down.
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Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?  And the <span class='smallcaps'>Lord</span> said, They will deliver <i>thee</i> up.
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&#182; Then David and his <sup>a</sup><a href="1_sam/23/13a" mark="a" type="A" title="2 Sam. 2: 3; 2 Sam. 19: 41.">men</a>, <i>which were</i> about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go.  And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
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And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph.  And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
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And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David <i>was</i> in the wilderness of Ziph in a <sup>a</sup><a href="1_sam/23/15a" mark="a" type="D" title="OR forest (also v. 16, 18, 19).">wood</a>.
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&#182; And <sup>a</sup><a href="1_sam/23/16a" mark="a" type="A" title="1 Sam. 20: 42 (41-42).">Jonathan</a> Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
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And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father <sup>a</sup><a href="1_sam/23/17a" mark="a" type="A" title="1 Sam. 20: 31 (30-31).">knoweth</a>.
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&nbsp;&nbsp;18 
And they two made a covenant before the <span class='smallcaps'>Lord</span>: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
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&#182; Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which <i>is</i> on the south of Jeshimon?
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Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part <i>shall be</i> to deliver him into the king’s hand.
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And Saul said, Blessed <i>be</i> ye of the <span class='smallcaps'>Lord</span>; for ye have compassion on me.
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&nbsp;&nbsp;22 
Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where <sup>a</sup><a href="1_sam/23/22a" mark="a" type="P" title="HEB his foot; i.e. his customary walk.">his</a> haunt is, <i>and</i> who hath seen him there: for it is told me <i>that</i> he dealeth very subtilly.
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&nbsp;&nbsp;23 
See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
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And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men <i>were</i> in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.
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Saul also and his men went to seek <i>him.</i>  And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon.  And when Saul heard <i>that,</i> he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
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And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
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&#182; But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
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Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place <sup>a</sup><a href="1_sam/23/28a" mark="a" type="D" title="IE The rock of divisions.">Sela</a>-hammahlekoth.
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&#182; And David went up from thence, and dwelt in <sup>a</sup><a href="1_sam/23/29a" mark="a" type="A" title="1 Sam. 24: 22.">strong</a> holds at En-gedi.
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